Improvement in inkstands



' J. ADAIB..

Inksftand.

No. 218,614. Patented Aug. I9, 1.879... I

ff, a' wmvm fwf @hanf/7- .UNITE-D STATES l PATENT OFFICE JAMEs ADAIiaoF ALEPPo 'row-Nsnrr, (PrrrsBURe r. 0.,)'ALLEGnE-NY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. i

|MPRovEMNT IN INKSTANDS.

To all whom t may concern: n

Be it known that I,'JAMEs ADAIR, or" Aleppo township, (Pittsburg P. 0.,) county of Alleghe' ny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement 1n Inkstands and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making apart of this specification, in which-like letters indicating like parts- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tetrahedron inkstand illustrative of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken in the line xx, Fig.3. Fig.3 shows a horizontal sectionot' the same in the line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4. illustrates my invention as embodied in a conical form. Fig. 5 shows a removable cup, designed for use'in the ink-well, when desired. My present invention relates to an inkstand having a body of pyramidal or conical form, or of the form of the frustum of a cone or pyramid, or, if so preferred, rounded on top to a form more or less closely approximating to a sphere or dome, and having an ink-well which extends inwardly and downwardly in an angular direction from a lateral tapering or sloping side and into the solid body of the inkstand; and my invention also contemplates the use in such an ink-well of a removable cup having van inclined mouth, the angle of which is the same as that of the lateral sloping side from which the well enters. To such an inkstand I also add a cap or cover, which is `suspended from the apex or top of the taper and extends down over the well-opening.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a tetrahedron A, having an ink well or cavity, a, sloping downwardly and inwardly from one of its lateral faces or sides and into the body. The size and depth of this well may be varied at pleasure within the limits of the faces or sides of the body of the stand, and its position or the line of its length `is by preference parallel, or nearly parallel, `with the plane angle a2 made by the two side faces opposite the mouth al.

. One particular advantage attending this form of stand is its broad base and reduced apex, thereby reducing to a minimum any liability application filed to be overturned, as well as giving pleasure to the eye by its regular geometrical proportions and form. By making the mouth of the well in one of the side faces thelhorizontal area of such mouth is greatly reduced, thus excluding from the lwell dust and dirt `that would otherwise settle therein when opened fo'ruse; and furthermore, the inclined position of the well brings its length nearlyin or parallel with the line of vision of the user, andalso of his pen, as it is usually presented to the stand for a Vsupply'of ink. The user is thus enabled to introduce his pen to the bottom of the well and draw the ink therefrom without difficulty, and without danger of getting ink on his penholder and thus staining his fingers.

I prefer to make these stands of cut glass, or of other suitable transparent material, though other suitable materials may be used.

In order to cover the mouth of the well when not in use, and thus wholly exclude dirt and prevent evaporation, I make use of a triangular cap or cover, b, of the same form ,as the sides. This cap is held by flan ges b', which are adapted to inclose the two adjacent angles .of the stand from the apex downward the desired distance, and thus furnisha kind of dovetail support. By raising, this cap a little it can be turned so as to bring the triangular,

face b over one of the other sides and then let down over and upon the angles of such side. The mouth of the well will then be open ready for use, and the cap will still be supported on the stand out of the way and in convenient position for again covering the well when de sired.

The cap or cover may be made of metal, glass, or other suitable material, and any suitable knob or handle may be made on the apex for convenience in handling. If desired, a removable cup, B, Fig. 5, may be used in the well or recess a for holding the ink, the angle of the mouth of the cup being the same as that of the mouth of the well in which it is to be used. -V

In Fig. f1 I have shown my improved stand embodied in the form of a cone, with the well- ,mouth opening on the conical side or face a little below the apex. This form of stand possesses substantially the same advantages as the form shown in Fig. 11, and a conical cap or cover, made of glass or other material, may be used thereon, with a side opening in the cover arranged to register with the mouth of the well, or to be moved away from the month by simply rotating or turning the cap without removing it from the stand.

While I prefer the tetrahedronal or conical form for the body of the inkstand, any other pyramidal form may be adopted if so prefer red, or other equivalent modifications may be used, as above stated. The sloping or tapering sides may bc ornamented in any known way or with any desired style of ornamentation, if so preferred, provided no substantial depart' nre be made from the general features named.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. An inkstand having,` an exterior pyramidal form, (or its described equivalent,) and an ink-well extending in a direct line, but an angular direction, inwardly and downwardly from the lateral tapering side into the solid body of the inkstand, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a tapering inkstand having an inclined well-opening on a lateral side, a removable cup, B, adapted to fit such well, and having a month the angle of which is the same as that of the lateral side, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a tapering inkstand having an inclined well-opening` on a lateral side, a cover adapted to be suspended from the apex or top of the taper and extend down over the Well-opening, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES ADAR.

Witnesses R. H. WHITTLESEY, C. L. PARKER. 

